HOME AFFAIRS – PRISONS
– 30 March 1998

Dr Julian Lewis: What representations he has received with regard to the remand of 15 and 16-year-olds in adult prisons?

[SUPPLEMENTARY:] I thank the Minister for that reply. Does she agree that the primary way in which to deal with youngsters on remand in that age group is to try to find them secure local authority accommodation? In that connection, does she recall the repeated attacks by members of her ministerial team and the Prime Minister when they were in the shadow Home Office team on the Conservative Government's programme of building 170 such places? How does she square that attack with the revelation by the Under-Secretary of State for Health in a written answer on 11 March that the new Government planned only six such places to be built between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1998?